Time for a Tech-Free Summer!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Academy Sports + Outdoors.
All opinions are my own and were not influenced by any parties.

Every summer my kids tend to do the same thing many do. They dig out the tablet to play games. The TV is on their favorite programs, and they hit the computer to watch videos (mom-approved, of course).

They are doing what most kids their age do. But, that got me to thinking about what I did when I was a kid. I would head outside in the morning and would re-appear for lunch and then again at dinner time. My cue to come home was when the streetlights turned on.

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I loved my summers playing outside with my friends.We did not need the latest gadget or program to be entertained. It made me wish that my kids could have that same experience.

And then I thought, why can’t they? Why can’t I try to give my kids the same type of summer I had when I was growing up. Some things have changed, but there are so many things that are still the same.

That’s what made me decide to help my kids have a summer like I did growing up. You know what I’m talking about — the one that is TECH-FREE! I want to get them up off the sofa and outside so they can just be a kid!

Our kids get bombarded with so much technology all year long that their brains need a break. They need a chance to have new experiences, and that’s what they can do when they get outside. They get up off the sofa and get some exercise. They just get to be a kid.

WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS SUMMER

My kids do many of the same things I did when I was growing up. They ride their bikes up and down our street and play catch in the backyard. All three of them have fun jumping on the trampoline, and there is nothing like a family game of basketball after dinner.

I wanted to find some new ways they could have some fun. But, of course, being a family on a budget, I didn’t have a lot of money to spend. So, I did what any good budget-wise mom does — I found a way to get some new games without spending too much.

I noticed Academy Sports + Outdoors had an entire selection of things for my kids to do. The prices are affordable, with many priced less than $30, $20 and even $10! We gravitated to the things that caught their eye.

Pickle Ball Starter Kit – $29.99

My oldest daughter told me about this fun game she had played in school called Pickle Ball. I’d never heard of it. I compare it to a larger version of Ping-Pong, without the table. I wasn’t very good the first few times we played it, but I have definitely improved and now give her a run for her money!

Aerobie Orbiter Boomerang – $9.99

We also found this really fun take on a Frisbie. Rather than play with a friend, you can toss this Aerobie Orbiter Boomerang, and it will come back to you. It took a few tries, but my daughter was finally able to get the hang of it. (Don’t even ask me how I did. It wasn’t pretty).

ZURU X-SHOT Water Warfare Thunder Water Blaster 2-Pack – $12.99

When we walked into the store one of the first things my younger kids saw were these water guns. They’ve had the small ones you find at other stores, but they never worked well. They had always wanted “real” water guns (as they called them).

We got this two pack of ZURU X-SHOT Water Warfare Thunder Water Blasters at a really reasonable price. They said that it was the best thing they had gotten this year (Yes, something less than $13 pleased them more than expensive toys. Gotta love that!).

Bean Bag Toss

The last thing we grabbed was a bean bag toss set. This one is really awesome because the two boards Velcro together and have a carrying strap. It makes it really easy to transport it from one location to the other.

We have Friday night hangouts with our friends, so this is going to be really popular when we all get together. Our kids have been busy perfecting their throw. It will be fun when we have a big group of us together to see who wins – Kids or Adults!!

I challenge you to get outside with your kids this summer, just like when you were a kid! If you need fun ideas and want to get your kids some things to do, you should check out Academy Sports + Outdoors. Academy makes it easy to enjoy more sports and outdoor fun, with everyday low prices!

You can find floats for the pool, most of which are less than $10 each! They have water guns for $10 – $20 and we even found a really cool floating cooler for $29.99. They also have a large selection of other fun tool poys and outdoor games for the entire family — many priced from $10 – $30! All very affordable for just about any budget.

We’ve only been out of school for a little more than a week, but we’ve already started having some serious fun. And best of all, it didn’t require a screen!!

Let Academy know how you’re getting outside this summer by tagging them in your sharing photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! You can also check out Academy’s online store locator to find a location near you and kick off your outdoor summer!

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I'm Tracie! Several years ago, my husband and I found a way to work ourselves out of more than $35,000 in debt. As a result of our journey, we now help families learn to do the same. I share my tips on life, family and finances - to help others achieve this same goal of living a debt free life! Learn more about me and my family HERE.

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